Collapsible office machine frame



N. T. FREEMAN ET AL COLLAPSIBLE OFFICE MACHINE FRAME Feb. 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 4, 1949 I, I, 1 1 r I 1 1 l 1951 N. T. FREEMAN EI'AL 2,540,297

COLLAPSIBLE OFFICE MACHINE FRAME Filed Oct. 4, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS. A/AP/A/EZFQEEMAN 52 |-6 By F0551 E. 50mm Patented Feb. 6, 1951 COLLAPSIBLE OFFICE MACHINE FRAME Nadine T. Freeman and Robert E. Boyden, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Clary Multiplier Corporation, San Gabriel, Calif., a corporation of California Application October 4, 1949, Serial No. 119,519-

1 7 Claims.

This invention relates to ofiice machines such as adding, calculating, check Writing and the like machines, and has particular reference to an arrangement to facilitate storing and transporting such machines.

In the above type machines which embody a keyboard for entering amounts or factors, it is generally desirable to arrange the keyboard at an inclining angle to the horizontal in order to facilitate viewing and operating the keys and other parts of the machine, and to otherwise reduee strain on the part of the operator. For this r son, most machines of the above type are provided with inclining keyboards, and in fact, with the general plane of the top of the machine inclining upwardly and rearwardly. This optimum arrangement of the keyboard and other portions of the machine, however, generally so influences the basic design of the component parts of the machine as to increase its height, and in particular, to increase the bulk or cubage of a storing compartment such as a desk drawer, carrying case, or the like in which the machine be stored.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to collapse a machine of the above type to fit within a storage compartment smaller than the size of the machine when the latter is in normal operating condition.

Another object is to facilitate tilting of the keyboard of a machine of the above type to an inclined position relative to the horizontal.

Another object is to provide a collapsible machine of the above type which will operate equally well in both collapsed and extended positions.

A. further object is to provide a collapsible machine of the above type which is substantially dustproof and soundproof in either collapsed or extended position.

A further object is to provide an office machine which is as compact and self-enclosed as; possible.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention are accomplished will be readily understood on reference to the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an adding machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 4, illustrating one form of locking device for locking the machine in different positions.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. i.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line l'4' of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rear of the machine showing an alternative form of locking means for locking the same in its different positions.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the invention and is taken substantially along the line S'-{5 of Fig. 8.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the machine in collapsed condition.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional View taken along the line 88 of Fig. 6.

As is shown particularly in Fig. l, the machine is illustrated as an adding machine embodying a series of keys H for the purpose of entering selected amounts and for conditioning and controlling the computing mechanism as desired. A rotatable platen i0 is provided adjacent the rear of the machine to carry a paper strip pastv a printing mechanism (not shown) for the purpose of recording various factors and amounts on the strip.

It is to be understood; however, that the machine may be of the ten key type (as shown) or full key keyboard type, either hand driven or motor driven, and may alternatively be a calculating machine, check Writer or the like, since the present invention is not limited to any particular type of keyboard equipped oflice machine but can be applied to any of the above types with equal advantage.

Generally, in all such machines, however, the computing and operating mechanisms thereof are carried by a frame or chassis 12. In the present instance the frame 22 comprises a floor plate l3 and sides Id integral therewith. End braces I5 and I6 extend across and are suitably secured to the ends of the frame sides M, thus forming a rigid boxlike frame unit for containing and supporting the operating mechanisms. Since the latter mechanisms are not necessary to an understanding of the present invention they have been omitted from the present disclosure.

A housing ll of plastic or the like extends over the machine proper and has an opening [8 in the top thereof through which the keys ll extend. The housing includes a skirt I9 extending downwardly therearound to cover the sides i4 and end braces l5 and I6 of the frame.

I he housing H isremovably secured to the frame IZ' through brackets 20' (Figs. 3 and 4) attached to the frame sides I4. Screws 2| removably secure the housing to the brackets 20 from the under side of the former so as to be invisible from the exterior of the machine.

According to the present invention, the chassis unit, including the housing ll, is mounted on a supporting base 22 for movement into either of two positions about co-axial pivot pins 23 located adjacent the front of the machine. The base 22 comprises a floor plate 2 5 mounted on machine supporting feet 9. An integral skirt 25 extends upwardly from the base 22 and is located between the sides M of the machine frame and the skirt IQ of the housing ll thus forming a substantially sound-proof and dust-proof enclosure for the operating parts of the machine.

The pivot pins 23 extend through the forward portion of the frame sides i l and the skirt 25 of the base, thus forming trunnion bearings, and are attached to slides 25. The latter are provided with slots Zl guided over pins 23 mounted on the floor plate 24 of the base, permitting the pins 23 to be retracted so as to enable the chassis to be removed from the base for repair or inspection purposes. Ears extend upwardly from the adjacent ends of the slides 26 and a compression spring 3i is inserted therebetween to normally hold the slides and pivot pins 23 in their illustrated positions. Tabs are also formed on the adjacent ends of the slides 26 and extend downwardly through an opening 33 in the floor plate 2d, whereby the latter may be grasped and moved inwardly to release the pins 29 from pivotal engagement with the skirt of base 22.

Two alternative locking devices are disclosed herein for selectively locking the machine chassis and housing I? in either their normal oper ation position, as shown in full lines, or in a collapsed position illustrated by dot-and-dash lines Ila (Fig. 4) for storage and like purposes wherein the upper surface of the housing El and the general plane of the keyboard extend ubstantially horizontally o parallel with the supporting surface for the machine.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a lock piece 35 is provided on each side of the chassis and is pivoted on a pin 3% extending between two transverse side plates 3'? and 38 suitably secured to the side walls M of the chassis frame. Each lock piece 35 has a locking ear i38 thereon adapted to look within either of two spaced openings or detents 39 formed in the side portions of the skirt 25 of the base 22. 39 is tensioned between the chassis floor plate 13 and an extension M of the lock piece 35 so as to normally hold the same in locking engagement with one or the other of the openings 39.

Carrying handles 92 are provided for carrying the machine from place to place. These handles are U-shaped and the legs of each thereof are pivoted on two spaced frame pins 33 also extending between the aforementioned frame plates 31 and 33 and extend through openings 142 provided in the top of the housing. The handles are normally held in their retracted positions by aspring Ml tensioned between feet M3 on the handles. It will be noted on reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 that the handles, when in their retracted positions, are located in wells 35 formed in the housing ill so that the upper surfaces of such handles will be flush with the upper surface of the housing. This arrangement places the handles out of the way of the operators fingers when the latter is operating the machine. When the handles d2 are raised upward to their carrying positions hown by the dotted lines 62a in Fig. 2 for the purpose of carrying the machine, the feet M3 will engage the extensions 41 of the A spring locking pieces 35, thereby retracting the same from looking engagement with the base so that the chassis may be lowered to its collapsed position. By releasing the handles 42 to their retracted positions while the chassis is held in its collapsed position, the ears I38 of the locking pieces 38 will be inserted in the lower openings 39 to lock the chassis in this position.

A spring M5 is tensioned between an extension 2-6 of the rear side of the base skirt 25 and an extension i-l of the floor plate 53 of the chassis so as to urge the chassis toward its upper illustrated position. A stop bracket 3 is attached to the skirt 25 by rivets 49 or the like and is located to limit upward movement of the chassis beyond that illustrated in Fig. 3.

It will be noted that, since none of the operating parts of the machine need be disturbed upon collapsing of the machine, the latter may be operated equally well in extended or collapsed condition. Also, aligned openings 52 and 53 are formed in the floor plates l3 and 25, respectively, in line with the screws 2|, permitting a screwdriver to be inserted through the bottom of the machine to remove or replace such screws and thus remove or replace the housing.

Fig. 5 illustrates an alternative form of locking device for selectively locking the chassis l2 in extended or collapsed position relative to the base 22. In this case, the spring M5 of Fig. 4 is omitted and the locking device comprises a plunger its secured to the lower end of a leaf spring Ml mounted at the other end thereof on the back side of the skirt #9 of housing i"? by rivets i l-3 or the like. A knob 59 is attached to the plunger l st, whereby the same may be withdrawn against the action of spring Ml from engagement with any of three holes 5! formed in the skirt 25 of the base, thus permitting the chassis to be adjusted and securely locked in any of three positions relative to the base. With the machine completely collapsed, the plunger M6 will be located in align-- ment with the lowermost hole 5! and, when released to engage this hole, will lock the machine in that condition.

The afore-described handle arrangement is disclosed and claimed in the copending application of R. E. Boyden, Serial No. 119 517, filed October 4, 1949. Also, the afore-described locking arrangement shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is disclosed and claimed in the oopending application of R. E. Boyden et al., Serial No. 119,518, filed October 4, 1949.

Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, illustrate a modified form of the invention arranged to form as con1- pact a machine as possible, particularly when in collapsed condition.

As is well known, in office machines using a paper on which values entered into or obtained from the machine are recorded, the paper is generally supplied from a roll which takes up considerable space. On relatively small adding machines and the like, the supply roll takes up a large proportion of the total bulk of the machine and due to the circular shape of the paper roll it is diflicult to adequately utilize the space around the roll. For this reason, many office machines support the roll to the rear of the machine or in a position extending through an opening formed in the rear housing for the machine. Such an arrangement however, still requires additional storage space to contain the roll.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the paper is provided in fan-fold form so as to utilize to the best advantage all available space.

This arrangement also permits more effective covering of the machine by the usual machine housing, i. e., [7, since no opening need be left for the paper supply roll to protrude.

As shown, the fan-fold pack 69 is arranged to be placed within a tray 51 fitted within an opening 52 provided in the floor plate 63 (similar to the floor plate 2 3 in Figs. 1 to 4.) of the base 22. Tabs 68a extend outwardly from the tray 61 forming guide to support the tray on the floor plate 63 and to permit sliding of the latter rearwardly when the machine is in its raised position shown in Fig. 6, for the purpose of removing or replenishing the paper.

The paper G l, after leaving the top of the pack 60 is guided over a roller 65, pivotally supported by brackets 56 extending upwardly from the floor plate l3 of the machine chassis. The paper extends upwardly over a second roller 67 which is mounted on brackets 68 extending upwardly from the rear cross-brace it. Thereafter, the paper passes around the platen across the printing point (not shown).

When the machine is in its collapsed condition shown in Fig. 7, the floor plate l3 of the chassis lies directly adjacent the top of the tray 6! and the roller 65 rests on or closely adjacent the top of the paper pack 55. However; when the machine is in its extended position shown in Fig. 6, the roller 65 is located some distance above the pack 65, permitting the paper to be easily peeled or stripped from the pack.

Having thus described the invention, what we desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. In an office machine, the combination of a machine frame, a housing carried by said frame, said housing having a skirt extending downwardly therefrom and surrounding the sides of said frame, a base for supporting said frame, said base having a skirt extending upwardly therefrom and between said frame and said housing skirt, and means pivotally connecting said base to said frame whereby to permit tilting of said frame relative to said base.

2. In an office machine, the combination of a machine frame, a housing carried by said frame, said housing having a skirt extending downwardly therefrom and surrounding the sides of said frame, a base for supporting said frame, said base having a skirt extending upwardly therefrom and between said frame and said housing skirt, means pivotally connecting said base to said frame adjacent one end of said base whereby to permit tilting of said frame relative to said base, and means for selectively locking said frame in any of a plurality of tilted positions relative to said base.

3. In an Ofi'lCe machine, the combination of a machine frame, a housing carried by said frame, said housing having a skirt extending downwardly therefrom and surrounding the sides of said frame, a base for supporting said frame, said base having a skirt extending upwardly therefrom and between said frame and said housing skirt, means pivotally connecting said base to said frame adjacent one end of said frame whereby to permit movement of said frame about a horizontal axis between a lower position and a raised position relative to said base, and spring means for urging said frame toward said upper position.

4. In an office machine, the combination of a machine frame, a housing carried by said frame, said housing having a skirt extending downwardly therefrom and surrounding the sides of said frame, a base for supporting said frame, said base having a skirt extending upwardly therefrom and between said frame and said housing skirt, means pivotally supporting said base on said frame adjacent one end of said frame whereby to permit movement of said frame between a lower position and an upper position relative to said base, spring means for urging said frame toward said upper tilted position, and means for selectively locking said frame in either of said positions.

5. In an office machine, the combination of a machine chassis, a base for supporting said chassis, a housing carried by said base, said housing having a skirt extending downwardly therefrom and surrounding the sides of said chassis and the sides of said base, means supporting said chassis on said base for tilting movement, and means for selectively locking said chassis in any of a plurality of tilted positions relative to said base.

6. In an omce machine, the combination of a machine chassis, a housing carried by said chassis, said housing having a skirt extending downwardly therefrom and supporting the sides of said chassis, a bas for supporting said chassis, said base having a skirt extending upwardly therefrom and between said chassis and said housing skirt, means on said base pivotally supporting said frame for tilting movement, a locking element carried by said chassis, detent means on said base engageable by said locking element whereby to lock said chassis in diiferent tilted positions relative to said base, spring means normally maintaining said locking element in locking position relative to said detenting means, and manually manipulatable means for releasing said locking element.

7. In an oflice machine, the combination with a machine frame for supporting the operating instrumentalities of said machine, a keyboard carried by said frame for controlling said instrumentalities, and a housing carried by said frame, said housing having a skirt extending downwardly therefrom and surrounding the sides of said frame; of a base for supporting said frame, supporting feet on said base, said base having a skirt extending upwardly therefrom and between said frame and said housing skirt, removable pivot bearings for pivotally supporting said frame on said base for tilting movement about an axis adjacent the forward end of said base, a locking element carried by said frame, said base skirt having a plurality of openings therein engageable by said locking element whereby to lock said frame in different tilted positions relative to said base, spring means for normally maintaining said locking element in engagement with one of said openings, and manually manipulatable means for releasing said locking element.

NADINE T. FREEMAN. ROBERT E. BOY DEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 374,047 Evans Nov. 29, 1887 443,977 Sthreshley Dec. 30, 1890 1,676,809 Uhlig July 10, 1928 2,024,622 Bates Dec. 17, 1935 2,408,452 Stixrud Oct. 1, 1946 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,23%,297 February 6, 1951 NADINE T. FREEMAN ET AL. It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requirlng correction as follows:

Column 6, line 25, for the Word supporting read surrounding;

as corrected above, so that r V and that the said Letters Patent should be read the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of April, A. D. 1951.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

I theabove numbered patent requiring correcti I and that the said Letters Patent should be re Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,540,297 February 6, 1951 NADINE T. FREEMAN ET AL. 7

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of on as follows:

ng read surrounding; ad as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this lOthday of April, A. D. 1951.

' Column 6, line 25, for theyvord sup-porti [seen] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

